HVAC system for a vehicle

Abstract

A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle is disclosed, the HVAC system including at least one thermoelectric device for providing supplemental heating and cooling for air supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle to maximize an efficiency of operation of the vehicle during operation of the HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first fluid circuit including a first conduit configured to convey a first fluid therein, said first circuit in thermal communication with an electric side of the vehicle; 
 a second fluid circuit including a second conduit configured to convey the first fluid therein; 
 a first thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with at least one of said first circuit and said second circuit, the second heat transfer surface adapted to be in thermal communication with an air stream conduit, wherein said first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with said air stream conduit; and 
 a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with said second fluid circuit, wherein said first circuit, said second circuit, said first thermoelectric device, and said first heat exchanger are configured to cooperate to heat, cool, or demist an air stream in the air stream conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air stream conduit is in communication with a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a source of air for supplying the air stream. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first crossover conduit configured to selectively permit flow of the first fluid between the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second crossover conduit configured to selectively permit flow of the first fluid between the first thermoelectric device and the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a recirculation conduit configured to recirculate the first fluid within the second fluid circuit without the first fluid flowing to the first fluid circuit. 
     
     
       6. The system of according to  claim 5 , further comprising a valve configured to control flow of the first fluid through the recirculation conduit. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the recirculation conduit is in thermal communication with an exhaust gas heat recovery device configured to recover heat from exhaust gases. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid circuit comprises a first bypass conduit and a valve configured to direct the first fluid through at least one of the first bypass conduit or the electric side of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid circuit comprises a second bypass conduit in fluid communication with at least one of a first crossover conduit or a recirculation conduit, the first crossover conduit configured to selectively permit flow of the first fluid between the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit, the recirculation conduit configured to recirculate the first fluid within the second fluid circuit without the first fluid flowing to the first fluid circuit, and the second bypass conduit configured to bypass a second heat exchanger disposed in the second fluid circuit, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with an engine of a fuel fed side of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device transfers thermal energy from the first fluid to the air stream in a heating mode, and wherein the thermoelectric device transfers thermal energy from the air stream to the first fluid in a cooling mode. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a coolant. 
     
     
       12. The system of according to  claim 1 , wherein a source of heat is the first conduit. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a source of heat is the second conduit. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is disposed in the air stream conduit, and wherein the first thermoelectric device is in direct thermal communication with said air stream conduit downstream of the first heat exchanger in the air stream conduit. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric side of the vehicle comprises a battery. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first bypass conduit is in thermal communication with a third heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the first fluid.